Trade Unions Warn Gov't

(Trinidad Guardian) Trade unions say they will be rallying their forces to resist any plan by the Government to send home more workers.

In response to statements made by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at his second Conversations with the Prime Minister in Pt Fortin on Tuesday night, Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) president Ancel Roget and president of the Public Services Association (PSA) Watson Duke said the labour movement is uniting against what they describe as Government’s anti-worker policies.

Their warning came after Dr Rowley said there are 50,000 public servants on the State’s payroll and while there have been no major layoffs in the sector, he is not sure how long those numbers can be sustained if revenues continue to decline.

Duke, who described the statement as a “veiled threat,” challenged Rowley’s statement on the size of the public service which he said actually comprises 80,000 teachers, public officers, fire officers, health workers and prison officers.

“I serve notice to the Prime Minister to let him know we will not allow him to get away with mischief. Since he has entered office he has not offered one positive word of hope to public officers, now he has offered another threat. We are not taking that,” he said.

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